Welcome to this guide on chinook salmon fishing! If you’re new to the sport and want to catch your first fish, or you’ve been doing it for a while and want to take your skills up a notch, then look no further. This guide will give you all of the tips that you need in order to go from amateur fisherman to professional angler.
Read on as I tell you how many lines should be out when casting, what gear is needed (and what isn’t), as well as other important considerations such as weather conditions and water depth. Let’s get started!
Where You Can Fish For Chinook Salmon?
Chinook salmon are hardly ever found in the Gulf of Mexico, but there are places where they can be caught.
About 50 miles off the coast of Texas sits an archipelago of about 300 islands known as The Lower Laguna Madre near South Padre Island, Port Isabel, and Brownsville. Local people have long known that chinooks, also called king salmon or tyee, can be caught there in large numbers.
The catch is not easy. The islands sit on the edge of the continental shelf and are near deep water where sharks roam freely. There are hidden snags below the surface that make life difficult for any fisherman working from a boat, but it’s possible to jig a chinook from a pier or fish on foot from one of the small, sandy islands.
The Laguna Madre is an ideal place to fish during the spring and fall when chinooks move into shallow water to feed on baitfish such as anchovies and sardines. Some of these fish weigh as much as 100 pounds, according to fisherman Eddie Chapman.
How To Catch Chinook Salmon Fishing
Chinook Salmon Rods & Reels
The first thing in our mind when we buy any fishing gear is its price. Fishing rods vary in price from a few dollars to many hundreds of dollars. It is not a good idea to purchase the cheapest rod you can find simply because it will be inferior in quality and most likely will perform poorly. So where do you begin when you have a particular budget in mind?
Look for rods that are light in weight but still feel sturdy. You’ll be able to use the rod longer if it is comfortable in your hands, without feeling too heavy or too light.
In choosing a rod for salmon, do not get caught up in the design or color of the rod case you choose. The color is not important and neither is a matching case – any color will do. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a sales clerk when purchasing your rod and reel.
Line
It is believed that the minimum breaking strength (MBS) of the fishing line should be at least 20% higher than the weight of a full-grown chinook salmon to safely land a fish. In reality, many anglers use fishing lines less than 20% of the MBS of chinook salmon.
The actual breaking strength or straining power is more important for catching salmon as this parameter reflects the energy required from the fish to break off at the line. In addition, the abrasive quality of a fishing line is also significant to acknowledge as it may have an effect on how quickly the line will cut through the scales and skin of a salmon.
The diameter of a fishing line has a great influence on its strength. Generally, larger-sized lines are more durable against cuts and abrasion. In addition, more abrasion-resistant lines are more visible to a fish and thus can function as a larger visual stimulus for the fish.
No matter what line you use, it is advisable to check your rigging several times a day by tugging on the line with a rod to see if the line has been cut or if there is a risk of it breaking.
Bait
Fishing for chinook salmon requires lures that are especially sturdy and well-constructed to battle these powerful fish.
There are several good options when it comes to fishing bait for chinook salmon, but these five work best:
- Shrimp
- Herring
- Squid
- Clams
- Sandworms or Nightcrawlers
These baits are all firm and sturdy, so they can withstand the force of a large salmon’s biting action. They also have natural oils that could entice a hungry chinook when other lures might fail to do so.
When choosing the best bait for chinook salmon, make sure to ask for help at your local fishing shop. Some lures may work better under certain conditions. For example, if you are fishing in saltwater or brackish water, then herring is a good choice because it naturally lives in that type of environment. Shrimp and squid, on the other hand, may work better if you are fishing in freshwater areas.
What set-up should I use for Chinook Salmon?
Large Chinook Salmon can be caught at Lake Bullen Merri and my preferred option is to go with a medium-sized spinning rod, reel setup. A fast-action 3 – 5kg rod rated 6 feet or taller will provide the best results for this type of fish that has an average size range from 20 – 30lbs but it’s unpredictable how big they’ll get! Pair this up alongside 2000+ lbs test monofilament line braided through between two hooks on top while using lures if you wish which I recommend by selecting braid over other types due to its strength against a larger game like trout in pools below where these large ones live.
Can you catch salmon with spinners?
You bet. However, not just any spinner will do. This is because salmon have a very sensitive lateral line system that detects water vibrations from swimming prey and predators. In fact, this “sixth sense” is so precise that it can detect spinners from over 100 yards away!
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you get started with everything from choosing your rod and reel combo to catching live bait, knowing what type of line to use, and how much it’ll cost. Whether fishing in the spring or wintertime, be sure not to forget that patience will lead you closer to success. If you’re new here, we recommend checking out our blog for more helpful tips on freshwater fishing!